Street Crimes Unit

The Street Crimes Unit was formed to target street level narcotics violators and drug houses, gather gang information, and conduct special surveillance operations. Since its inception, the SCU has increased its areas of responsibility to include weapons violations, probation violation, and other types of street crime which can be proactively addressed by doing surveillance, serving search warrants, using informants, and conducting undercover operations, buy/busts, and reverse stings.

One sergeant and three officers work in this unit and focus on selected criminal targets in Longview. All of the personnel assigned to the SCU are among the most experienced in the department, especially in the area of narcotics enforcement. Some current members were formerly assigned to the Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Narcotics Task Force. The SCU often works closely with other agencies such as the Department of Corrections, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office, to name a few. On occasion, if it fits with the Longview Police Department mission, the SCU also helps other local police departments with street level narcotics enforcement within their jurisdictions.

The Street Crimes Unit actively solicits tips from other officers and members of the public regarding suspected criminal activity of an ongoing, chronic nature. The SCU uses a tip sheet, which is available to the public through any officer, detective, or CSO. The unit works mostly at night and on the weekends and is available to the public for questions and comments.